World News - Google launches Chinese service agrees to adhere to Red Chinese government censorship rules

Google has launched its Chinese service with bullish growth forecasts and a robust defence of its decision to limit user access to certain internet sites. Chief executive Eric Schmidt said that sales growth "will obviously be large" and Google expects to have thousands of software engineers working in China. He also said that Google had no choice but to accept restrictions if it wanted access to China's internet market. The number of internet users in China is set to top 187 million in 2 years. Once again Capitalists abandon their so-called creed of free enterprise jumping in bed with the so-called mortal enemy the Communists to make a Buck. You may be asked to fight and die to support free enterprise, but don’t expect free enterprise to pass up making a buck while you maybe dieing for them. If they are the enemy, why are they helping them? Sure looks like helping the enemy to me. Is there a difference if some select can make a buck? Or is it just a big money racket? ... http://news.bbc.co.uk

Iraq's interior minister has admitted death squads and other unauthorised armed groups have been carrying out sectarian killings in the country. But in a BBC interview, Bayan Jabr denied allegations that these groups were linked to his ministry. Mr Jabr blamed the proliferation of civilian security companies and licensed protection agencies used by other government ministries. Sunni Muslims say government-backed Shia militias are behind many attacks. The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says that every day more victims of Iraq's sectarian strife turn up. Corpses bound and shot are dumped at the roadside. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4901786.stm

Egypt has released about 900 members of the militant group Gamaa Islamiya, the interior ministry has said. It said the releases took place over the last 10 days and one of the founders of the group, Najeh Ibrahim, was among those freed. Gamaa Islamiya was once Egypt's largest militant group. It mounted attacks on tourists and Christians in the 1990s. But the group declared a ceasefire in 1999 and some of its imprisoned leaders went on to renounce violence. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4901758.stm

Mexican officials say they have seized five-and-a-half tonnes of cocaine from a commercial aircraft that landed after flying from Venezuela. The drugs are said to have a potential street value of up to $100m (£57m). The cocaine was reportedly packed in more than 100 suitcases marked "private". Three people were arrested. Mexican officials say that cocaine is increasingly being imported from Colombia via Venezuela, with the US being the ultimate destination. In this case the army was waiting for the plane as it landed at the airport of Ciudad de Carmen, 880km (550 miles) east of Mexico City, after being tipped off by Venezuelan authorities, said Mexican General Carlos Gaytan. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4901828.stm

The home secretary, Charles Clarke, today lost a court battle to strip a terror suspect held at Guantánamo Bay of his right to British citizenship.A solicitor acting for David Hicks, 31, a Muslim convert from Australia who was captured in Afghanistan, said British diplomats would now have to start negotiations with the US authorities over his release from the controversial prison camp in Cuba.Stephen Grosz said he would be making immediate representations to British officials to take up his client's case. Britain has managed to get all nine of its nationals held in the US base released.Three court of appeal judges dismissed a challenge by Mr Clarke to a high court ruling last December that he had "no power in law" to deprive Mr Hicks of citizenship....http://www.guardian.co.uk/guantanamo/story/0,,1752402,00.html?gusrc=rss

Jurors at the Zacarias Moussaoui death penalty trial Wednesday heard the first public playing of the cockpit voice recorder of United Airlines Flight 93, the hijacked jetliner on 9/11 that missed its target thanks to a passenger uprising.At the beginning of the 31-minute recording, a voice says, "Ladies and gentlemen this is the captain ... remain seated."Then, another voice says, "We have a bomb on board." It is unclear who is speaking.The recording documents the heroic efforts of the passengers and crew to take back the plane from the four hijackers, according to the families who have heard the tape and the 9/11 Commission....http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/12/moussaoui.trial/index.html?section=cnn_us